Social Work in Nigeria: Book of Readings
Abstract
The book of readings provides a review of social work issues especially within the Nigerian context. It is a text with 18 chapters dealing with specific social work topics: social work in/with older adults, women and children, healthcare, orphan and vulnerable children, communities, rehabilitation; methods of social work, counselling and interviewing, among others. All the chapters are written by lecturers in the Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
... While practicing integrated Social Work in the community, Professional Social Workers tend to practice with families, particularly in their financial lives. According to numerous research, rural families have poor saving habits and do not keep accounts (Ngozi Eucharia Chukwu, 2017). Small farmers obtain money once or twice a year, and anytime they get money, they are tempted to spend it on nonproductive sources. ...
Purpose of the Study: Financial literacy is the main challenge for the rural population of India. It also plays a vital role in the economic outlook. In India, many poor people do not have a bank account, and only a few understand the concept of financial literacy. Due to lack of financial literacy many rural poor experience financial anxieties hence the present study was taken up to know the financial anxiety and resilience behavior among rural poor.
Methodology: The present study adopted the descriptive research design 62 respondents were selected for data collection from poor rural households by adopting the purposeful sampling technique in the Kodigenahalli Gram Panchayat jurisdiction. The present study was carried to assess the level of financial anxiety and its relationship with socio-demographical aspects.
Main Findings: The present study found that financial anxiety is experienced by the rural poor, and there is a correlation between education, occupation, number of household members with financial anxiety of the respondents.
Implication: The researcher proposed the need for Social Work Intervention to address financial anxiety and financial literacy.
The novelty of the study: The present study has described the level of financial literacy and financial anxiety that exists among the rural poor in Karnataka (India) and explored the scope of Financial Social Work in addressing financial literacy and financial anxiety. Financial Social Work changes the conversation about money. It provides a different way of thinking about money and it offers a better way of working with clients around the role of money in their lives, problems and issues.
Social work practice takes place at micro, mezzo, and macro levels between persons with disabilities in families and other social institutions, such as schools, health systems, and welfare systems. Drawing from multidisciplinary theoretical sources, the article brings together social work and family therapy to develop a possible social work intervention for families of children with Down syndrome. The primary purpose of these interventions is to aid clients in alleviating problems and improving their well being. Social workers must think creatively about interventions that may help the individuals, couples, families, and groups or communities they serve. This research is using the literature study method. The results confirm that numerous concerns have to be addressed faced by children with Down syndrome. Toward various issues and challenges faced by people with Down syndrome and their families, social workers have the professional responsibility to provide services and intervention to increase the children with Down syndrome's social functioning and overall well-being of parents.
Gender and sex shapes all aspects of our lives including access to key resources and services such as information, education, employment, health and credit. Being a socio-cultural construct, in terms of socially and culturally ascribed roles of males and females, gender often produces inequalities between sexes. This is because gender determines the way households allocate resources to sons and daughters. Discrimination of certain sex leads to their marginalization and exclusion from mainstream programs and services. The failure to address gender-based inequalities undermines efforts towards the broader goal of achieving social development. Although a number of approaches have been incorporated in the gender mainstreaming programs, social work seems to have been according minimal attention. The focus of this paper, therefore, is to build greater understanding of the potential role of social work in minimizing inequalities stemming from sexual and gender differences. The paper presents a brief review of literature on gender inequalities and at the end makes suggestions of the possible social work interventions which can help reduce gender inequalities.
Christian fundamentalism in Nigeria provides one of the thorniest set of issues among the contemporary Nigerian Christians and in the modern academic debate in the study of religion. This could be confirmed by a quick survey of relevant books and articles on the topic. This research paper, while not pretending to say the last word on the debate, has the hope that the in-depth clarification this Christian fundamentalist moral aphorism in Nigeria may in some way enhance proper understanding among the fundamentalist groups, and, when adequately harnessed shall help for spiritual, economic, social and political development of Nigeria, and for the growth and unity among the larger Christian Community in Nigeria.
Purpose
This article presents a systematic review of research into the teaching and learning of communication skills in social work education.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review, adhering to the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews for Interventions and PRISMA reporting guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Results
Sixteen records reporting on fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Studies consisted of randomised trials and quasi-experimental designs. Outcome measures included knowledge, attitudes and skills. Significant heterogeneity meant a narrative synthesis rather than meta-analysis was undertaken. Systematic communication skills training supports the development of students’ communication skills including the demonstration of expressed empathy and interviewing skills.
Discussion
The existing body of literature is limited but promising. Researchers conducting studies into communication skills training should seek to carry out robust and rigorous outcomes-focused studies. Further investigation into the theoretical underpinnings of the educational interventions and the roles played by key stakeholders is also required.
This study examined community mobilization awareness: Strategy for rural development in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria to ascertain the relationship between lack of increased awareness and rural infrastructure; and lack of increased participation of community members and rural development in Northern Senatorial District (NSD) of Cross River State. Adopted for this study is a survey design because of the large number of the respondents that were involved. A questionnaire was the instrument used to collect the data of the respondents. Chi-square statistics was used to test the hypotheses. The result revealed that lack of increased awareness impact negatively on rural infrastructure. Also, lack of increased participation of community members has impacted negatively on rural development as a whole. We commend that government needs to educate and sensitize community members to actively participate in community development as stake holders and also need to provide them with financial support for awareness campaign. We conclude that community mobilization is sacrosanct for the enlightenment of community members towards enhancing rural development.
The paper identifies and examines the legion of institutionalized discriminatory cultural practices that are often meted out on Igbo female genders in Nigeria. It further reviews the existing legal framework on women's rights at the national, regional and international levels. The paper further highlights and discusses factors that have impeded the elimination of these obnoxious cultural practices amongst the Igbos of South East Nigeria It inter-alia calls for an urgent legislative intervention; more involvement of traditional rulers, lawyers and Judges to combat these practices; more intensified reorientation of the Nigerian police; overhauling of the social institution, and more educational opportunities and political appointments for women. Recommendations are proffered on the best way forward in order to eliminate these harmful cultural practices or at least minimize their occurrences.
Community means different things to different people. There are numerous definitions and various theories used to analyze the concept of community. Community, in many ways represents a valid and meaningful social concept that has found a prominent place in social work practice. Community social work signifies 'the practice of professional social work with communities as target population or setting for interventions'. Communities are the context for community social work and community social work recognizes the diversity of communities. So, understanding different perspectives and dimensions of community is significant for effective community social work practice. This article reviews the concept, definitions and theories of community; and observes how it is understood generally in social work and specifically in community social work.
Contemporary struggles between genders have ensued changes in gender roles, with relative harmful implications for family and societal members. This has occasioned implications for human rights, thus creating relevance for the social work profession in managing such change. This paper utilized the rational choice theory in justifying core reasons people derive from maximizing their potentials and fulfilling their goals. The paper stuck to secondary sources of data collection and concluded that these changing gender roles occasion cases of human rights concerns which cut across various levels of practice. Hence, social workers as stakeholders in human rights fields should play the role of professionals with relevant skills and knowledge to achieve successful management of the inevitable change.
An interdisciplinary textbook on youth related topics with an Irish focus.
Countries plagued by corruption can attest to the fact that, once it becomes entrenched, it can be found in all sectors of an economy. But in low and middle income countries the health sector is particularly vulnerable, according to Transparency International. This is because competence and integrity are undermined by poor working conditions and weak systems. As part of our study we set out to find the five corrupt practices that most affected the delivery of health care services. We identified them as: absenteeism, procurement-related corruption, under-the-counter payments, health financing-related corruption and employment-related corruption. Based on these findings, we believe that it’s perfectly feasible for government to put policies in place to tackle all five practices. All it requires is the political will to put the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks in place.
Social work in East Africa is confronted with myriad social and structural problems. The heritage of imported theories and concepts from the West is still affecting education and practice. The profession lacks resources and has only limited influence on social policies. Since 2010, a multi-phase, research-focused project called PROSOWO has been running in order to bring the professionalization of social work on the agenda. In this article, empirical data are discussed with regard to developmental and indigenized social work in these countries. The discussion reflects on social work in East Africa from a cross-cultural perspective.
Social work practice takes place between persons in families and other social institutions, such as schools, health systems, welfare systems or courts. Drawing from multi-disciplinary theoretical sources, the article brings together social work and family therapy to develop a contemporary model of social work practice with families. There are five generic principles of family systemic practice: 1) persons are inherently relational; 2) families have resilient strengths; 3) family life cycles proceed systemically generating relational tasks for family members; 4) repetitive family interaction generates relational structures; 5) cultures, as perceived by family members, are themselves in dynamic motion, necessitating a transcultural understanding of family interaction.
The elderly persons in Nigeria are facing a lot of persistent challenges. They live in a country which has often been described as a rich nation inhabited by poor people. Consequently, their lives are characterized by growing inadequacies in customary family supports, social exclusion, and non-existent social security. This paper therefore takes an exploratory look at the debilitating situation of the elderly ones in Nigeria and tries to proffer counselling intervention strategies suitable for ameliorating the challenges of the aged
Interweaving community engagement into education coheres with social work's commitment to social justice. This paper focuses on a visit to an academic department in India. The visit focused on understanding the placement of students in a community context and its related projects. A qualitative design was used to conduct interviews and focus group discussions with academics, students and a community leader. Data were also gained through a field visit in the village. Valuable lessons emerged regarding the importance of community engagement in social work education and how social justice, advocacy and empowerment were interweaved into students' learning experiences.
Background:
Globally, national health systems are challenged to build successful aging models to prepare for biomedical, psychological and social changes. The integral component of psychosocial health in overall quality of life and well-being, however, is underscored and requires greater focus. Changing demographics in Nigeria, in addition to cultural considerations and absence of a social security system, present unique challenges to elderly.
Objective:
We aimed to review the literature that describes the current situation and challenges in psychosocial health status in the elderly in Nigeria and provide recommendations that promote health and well-being during the aging process.
Results:
Four primary factors affect psychosocial health status of elderly Nigerians, namely: changes in family dynamics, increased demand for healthcare services, increased economic stress, and decreased functional independence.
Conclusion:
Like other developing countries, the Nigerian national system faces similar challenges in preparing a national framework that can maximize coverage to citizens in the midst of demographic changes in aging. By focusing on five target areas such as the educational system, health services, community-based initiatives, local or regional policies and national strategies, current framework in Nigeria can be modified to prepare for changing demographics in aging.
Every members of the community desire to stay safe, healthy and healthy in all manners. To enjoy all amenities of the society one who need to have a vibrant economic status as well as excellent public services. Social services and social work have important role in helping the people to improve the quality of life by creating awareness and sustain the community by creating employment opportunities on their own effort. Present paper is an essential contribution to understand the role of social worker in community development (CD). Effective social work service promote independence and resilience, enabling some of our most vulnerable sections of the community. Present effort is to know the role of social worker in the process of community development.
This paper presents part of the findings that emerged from a recent research project entitled "A qualitative evaluation of so cial work field instruction being offered by universities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Field instruction is the heart of social work training. This key component of social work training has been placed under increasing pressure in the Eastern Cape. The findings presented in this paper highlight the strengths and weaknesses of field instruction programmes as well as the constraints facing universities in the Eastern Cape. In conclusion, it was found that the heart of social work education is, indeed, still beating strongly in the Eastern Cape.
Background:
There is not a lot in the literature on disability in Nigeria concerning the role that religion, culture and beliefs play in sustaining discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities.
Objectives:
Many of these practices are exclusionary in nature and unfair. They are either embedded in or sustained by religion, culture and beliefs about disability and persons with disabilities.
Methods:
Drawing on various resources and research on disability, this paper looks at these practices in respect of these sustaining factors. Some of the discriminatory practices that constitute the main focus of the paper are the trafficking and killing of people with mental illness, oculocutaneous albinism and angular kyphosis, raping of women with mental illness and the employment of children with disabilities for alms-begging.
Results:
The examination of these practices lends some significant weight and substance to the social model of disability, which construes disability in the context of oppression and the failure of social environments and structures to adjust to the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities.
Conclusion:
Given the unfairness and wrongness of these practices they ought to be deplored. Moreover, the Nigerian government needs to push through legislation that targets cultural and religious practices which are discriminatory against persons with disabilities as well as undertake effective and appropriate measures aimed at protecting and advancing the interests of persons with disabilities.
The employment of domestic servants is a common phenomenon in Nigeria, where vulnerable children are internally trafficked to work as domestic servants in affluent urban households. While scholars have investigated the push factors aiding the demand for child domestic servants in West Africa, attempts to understand the dynamics underlying the demand are scarce. Hence, this study investigated factors that propel demand for domestic servants in Oyo State. The data were generated using both the quantitative and qualitative methods. The results show three categories of employers: newly married women, married women with grown-up children, and isolated widows and grandparents. The demand is driven by role dualism, workload, and the need for companionship. The incipient decline in the extended family structure of social exchange system (fostering) and preference for “outsiders” rather than family members justify the demand for and use of domestic servants. The study recommended welfare programmes targeted at demanding households and an intervention strategy for the trafficked children.
This paper is evaluating the two popular community development approaches; the Top-down and the Bottom-up with their divergent differences in application and the influence each has in developmental projects/ programmes. The authors then proposes a new model / approach “MIXED METHOD”. The works of John Cohan and Norman Uphoff, Robert Chambers as earlier advocates of participatory development comes to mind as they tried to deviate from the previous and most popular top –down approach. Considering the fact that there has been arguments on the choice of one against the other, this paper proposes the “mixed method” as the most appropriate approach, as a new approach to balance the dichotomy thereby filling the research gap in search of most appropriate community development method. This advocates the application of both methods as there is need for a mix of both top-down and bottom-up for effective community development. This view of mixed method is borrowed from the supportive and effective empirical evidence for the adoption of mixed methods research in recent time. The review of previous articles, books, conference proceedings, and other internet publications were utilized as the methodological approach hence, the study used secondary data. The paper concludes that there should be a systematic blending or mixing of both top-bottom and bottom-up so as to achieve a holistic and appreciable sustainable development that carries every one along.
DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p266
This article focuses on the role of community leadership in the development of grassroots innovations. It asks: When community leaders initiate energy projects, what types of skills and knowledge practices do they utilise to nurture grassroots innovations? Grassroots innovations are usually driven by social and sustainability motives, and developed by civil society groups. Based on a mixed methods approach including research interviews and site visits, the article draws on previous literature on community leadership, grassroots innovations and niche literature. Community leadership is analysed via two in-depth community energy cases in the UK. Research findings show that community leadership can aid the development of grassroots innovations, which operate in niches and require nurturing. Community leadership benefits from being embedded into social networks, shared vision and decision making, but pre-existing skills and tacit knowledge also play a role. Community leaders can also assist niche building by working closely with intermediary actors.
The study examined the activities of the Ebonyi State Community Based Social Development Agency (EB-CSDA), particularly on poverty reduction in the rural communities of Ebonyi State. Survey and content Analytical Approach were adopted. Data were extensively drawn from documentary papers, publications, oral interviews, direct observation and the use of structured questionnaire distributed to 400 sampled respondents from rural communities in the 13 LGAs of the State. Findings reveal that despite efforts of successive governments aimed at reducing poverty, the scourge has remained pervasive. EB-CSDA however, is rated high in the provision of micro-projects to the rural communities but its approach is group- targeted rather than on the individual poor. Consequently, the paper recommends among others that adequate background studies should be undertaken to understand the demographic characteristics of the rural communities to enable development agencies target their efforts on the real poor based on sufficient needs assessments of recipients.
Social Casework is a micro practice in Social work Profession. The seven casework principles namely individualization, acceptance, self-determination, controlled emotional involvement, confidentiality, non-judgmental attitude and purposeful expression of feelings proposed by Felix Biestek is taken up to indigenize with Thirukural. Thirukural a sacred Tamil language literary classic is used for this purpose. Indigenization is a cross-cultural practice. This paper attempts in the line of Global definition of social work to indigenize the western concepts with the treasure trove of regional knowledge.
Community Practice is a comprehensive resource for social workers and students eager to learn how to practice effectively in complex systems and diverse communities. In this completely revised edition of the definitive text in the field, the authors have thoroughly updated each chapter and added two entirely new chapters on community building and community organizing. New material on topics such as negotiation and mediation, community advocacy, participatory rural appraisal, the narrative approach to social change, community involvement, representative client boards, and the latest in grassroots endeavors make this text as inspiring as it is practical. Drawing upon the wealth of information available from local organizations, the Internet, newspapers, and academic journals, the authors introduce contemporary experiments and analyze classic modes of community practice and change. The content, exercises, and references offer instructors the flexibility necessary to tailor their courses to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level students. This new edition will continue to provide a comprehensive and integrated overview of the theory and skills fundamental to all areas of social work practice. Broad in scope, it offers students as well as practitioners the tools necessary to promote the welfare of individuals and communities.
Written in an accessible style, this book highlights the distinctive aspects of social work policy and practice in Northern Ireland. It covers the historical development of social work, explores the challenges that have arisen from delivering services both during and post conflict and addresses the new imperatives created after the devolution settlement. Exploring many major themes - including social exclusion, devolution and working across borders - the book demonstrates how Northern Ireland's experience can provide lessons for national and international theory and practice.
This book examines how religion and related beliefs have varied impacts on the needs and perceptions of practitioners, service users, and the support networks available to them. The authors argue that social workers need to understand these phenomena, so that they can become more confident in challenging discriminatory and oppressive practices. The centrality of religion and associated beliefs in the lives of many is emphasised, as are their potentially liberating (and potentially negative) impacts. In line with the “Social Work in Practice” series style, the book allows readers to explore issues in depth. It focuses on knowledge transmission, and the encouragement of critical reflection on practice. Each chapter is built around ‘real-life’ case scenarios using a problem-based learning approach. This book is the first to deal with social work and religion so comprehensively and will therefore be essential reading not only for social work students, but also for practitioners in a range of areas, social work academics and researchers in the UK and beyond.
This singular reference explores religion and spirituality as a vital, though often misconstrued, lens for building better understanding of and empathy with clients. A diverse palette of faiths and traditions is compared and contrasted (occasionally with secularism), focusing on areas of belief that may inspire, comfort, or trouble clients, including health and illness, mental illness, healing, coping, forgiveness, family, inclusion, and death. From assessment and intervention planning to conducting research, these chapters guide professionals in supporting and assisting clients without minimizing or overstating their beliefs. In addition, the book’s progression of ideas takes readers beyond the well-known concept of cultural competence to model a larger and more meaningful cultural safety.
Among the topics included in the Handbook:
• Integrating religion and spirituality into social work practice.
• Cultural humility, cultural safety, and beyond: new understandings and implications for social work.
• Healing traditions, religion/spirituality, and health.
• Diagnosis: religious/spiritual experience or mental illness?
• Understandings of dying, death, and mourning.
• (Re)building bridges in and with family and community.
• Ethical issues in conducting research on religion and spirituality.
The Handbook of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice and Research is a richly-textured resource for social workers and mental health professionals engaged in clinical practice and/or research seeking to gain varied perspectives on how the religion and spirituality of their clients/research participants may inform their work.
This book outlines how adolescent neglect differs from child neglect, the context of why it is overlooked, how it is defined, the causes and consequences of neglect, young people's views, and what professionals can do. Based on original research, the book establishes an evidence base and considers the implications for policy and practice.
Social media and other online technologies have transformed communication between social workers and service users, with many practitioners engaging and working with clients through social networking sites. While there are numerous ethical issues associated with online practice related to confidentiality, dual relationships, and boundary crossing, there is lack of clarity about how to deal with such issues. This article uses a case example to develop a nuanced understanding of ethical issues and ethical behaviour in online spaces. We argue that social workers need to link their knowledge of the complex interplay between discourses that underpin daily practice like those related to power, permanency, authorship, audience, embodiment, and professionalism to social media created spaces. In doing this, social workers must retain their commitment to ethical values and critical reflective practice. We conclude with recommendations for education, research, and practice.
The relationship between religion and mental health has been debated for centuries. History shows that religious organizations were often the first to offer compassionate care to the mentally ill; however, for hundreds of years the religious establishment also persecuted the mentally ill. Nevertheless, the first form of psychiatric care in Western Europe and the US was known as 'moral treatment', in which religion played a significant role. The teachings of Freud and others during the early twentieth century concerning the neurotic influences of religion have had an enormous impact on the field, nullifying the quite favorable views toward religion held by nineteenth century psychiatrists. In this article, we review research that has found both negative and positive associations between religious involvement and mental health. We then examine the implications of this research for the clinical practice of psychiatry in the twenty-first century.
The fields of health care, aging, and social work are often treated as discrete entities, while all social workers deal with issues of health and aging on a daily basis, regardless of practice specialization. This is the first reference book to address this reality by compiling the most current thinking on these subjects in a single volume. With the population of older adults increasing as rapidly as new possibilities for their care, professionals need an accessible source of specialized information about how best to serve the elderly and their families. The most experienced and prominent gerontological health care scholars provide social workers with up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based practice guidelines for effectively assessing and treating older adults and supporting their families. The contributing authors paint portraits of a variety of populations that social workers serve and arenas in which they practice, followed by detailed recommendations of best practices for an array of physical and mental health conditions.
This chapter discusses the inclusion of spiritually-focused assessment and helping activities among the strategies social workers use with older adults. It describes the domains included in a spiritual assessment of the older adult and the use of spiritually-oriented helping activities. It identifies what clinician and client characteristics are most appropriate for spiritually-based interventions.